Northwest Flower & Garden Festival: Come With Me

For those of you who are new to my blog, I'd like to answer the question: Who am I and why am I writing so extensively on the Northwest Floral and Garden Festival? 

I am a blogger who writes about things that bring delight - food, design, travel, garden, crafts, sugar, ribbon etc. I've publish over 2,500 posts these last 12 years, all with my original photography. I have also written 3 books on Moments of Delight, Finding Delight and Paris: Delight in the City of Light

In terms of gardening, I love it all. My mission is to dissolve the barrier between busy American women, who get their information and inspiration through their phones, and the “you-need-to-know-a-lot” world of horticulture.

Some facts about me:

• My rose garden in Michigan boasted 19 hybrid tea and English roses. I'm starting over in a new zone and so far so good! I have 11 magnificent roses that will be featured here this spring.
• I made a pilgrimage to England and met the Davids Austin in their rose garden. I wept and they thought it was charming.
• I've eaten more nasturtiums than kale.
• I love gardening and my Dad and I used to plant strawberry pots full of herbs -  we would tuck herbs like Pineapple Sage or Chocolate Mint into each opening. 
• I make business card cases out of beautiful seed packets.
• I regularly visit lavender farms, dahlia barns and the American Orchid Society.
• I eat grow, buy and decorate my baked goods with edible flowers and buy candied violet petals whenever I see them.
• I have an imaginary magazine called Delight that often features my floral portraits on the cover. I turn these magazine covers into modern day bags.
• I love every flower from hydrangeas to lily of the valley and back - flower arranging in unusual vases is my strength. 

I am a suburban gardener from Southeastern Michigan who suddenly moved to Seattle and started a new life with my husband in the Pacific Northwest.

I probably love a lot of things that you love and after years of hearing about the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival, I finally had the chance to attend when we were shopping for an apartment near Seattle in 2014. I was so impressed by the sheer scale of the gardens, the volume of vendors selling not only garden tools and implements, but also plants, indoor/outdoor artwork, garden design elements, water features as well as clothing, hats and clogs that make a day outdoors more pleasant. I have returned to the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival every year, covered it in my blog and I am thrilled to lend them my support. 

Fast forward 5 years and I am now a Regional Director of GardenComm, formerly GWA: Association of Garden Writers and I've been asked to judge a new award to be given at the show!

Next week, when the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival opens on February 20th, I'll be there. 


#NWFGS #NWFGF #springinfeb #gardener #gardenlover #gardening #gardenshow #seattle #seattleblogger #finddelight #youbeyou #finddelight #springiscoming #garden #delight #lovewhatyoudo

Alnwick Rose by David Austin

A rose that looks destined for crystal; this is the Alnwick rose by David Austin. Have you ever seen a blossom so lovely? 

This is not a casual country rose. This beauty was designed for greatness. I can feel it. I was honored to meet the David Austin in England a few years ago and the experience was wonderful.

If you are thinking of starting a rose garden, you need to know that it will take time and tending, but results like this are worth every minute. 

Spoiled by Mother Nature: My Birthday Bouquet

She did it again. I've being spoiled by Mother Nature, who came up with these beautiful flowers just in time for my birthday. 

Daybreaker roses, David Austin Abraham Darby roses, Bill Warriner roses, coral verbena, fresh mint arranged in a Lychee can from the Asian market in Seattle.

David Austin Rose: Magnificent to Behold

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You are welcome to make this your screen saver.  A pristine David Austin English Rose, blooming with a touch of blue hydrangea makes the shell pink look even prettier.

In April, I made a new friend in Seattle and when a group of us went out to dinner, I apparently mentioned flowers and gardening one too many times. She said "You sound like my parents. You should see their garden in Portland." When I said that I'd love to, she told me even more about them. They are Master Gardeners and have over 300 clematis in their private garden haven on the Tualatin River.  I couldn't wait to visit! 

We were given a private tour of their garden during the second weekend in June.  And, just my luck, the clematis were blooming! I'll tell you more about our visit after the 4th of July holiday.  It was slightly misty that day and you won't believe how well my pictures came out. 

For tonight, I leave you with my favorite type of rose, a David Austin. This image was so lovely, I wanted to post it alone, to give it the attention it deserves. 

Delight Celebrates the Beauty of Everyday Life

This is the beauty of every day life.  This morning it was still quite dark outside and the light over the kitchen sink made one Abraham Darby rose stuck in an Evian bottle look like an opera star.  I just had to show you.

I am a firm believer in having pretty things by the kitchen sink.  That area of the kitchen is a magnet for friends/neighbors/family that stop by and having pretty dishwashing liquid and if possible, a flower from the garden in a vase makes me feel good.  It is a "Visual Vitamin" that I take every time I walk by.

I have collected some limited edition Evian bottles when they had a designer series, and I use them as vases, candle holders and I'm about to use some to house oils for cooking.  Why not? They are beautiful and would otherwise be recycled. This is my way of upcycling them and I feel good every time I see them.

The dishwashing liquid?  That is part of a new series by Palmolive called "Fresh Infusions" and I bought one of each strictly because the bottle is pretty. Market research, take note.

Inspired by Victoria Magazine

Couldn't this be a cover of Victoria magazine?  It was so dreamy and tone-on-tone, I had to show you.  Tricia Foley (a well known designer, famous for her love of white) would be proud, don't you think?  

All the credit goes to rose cultivator, David Austin.  This rose "Heritage" is his masterpiece.  I am only responsible for the tender loving care in the garden.   

My composition is an antique sugar bowl ($1 at a church rummage sale) and a pure white matelasse tablecloth.  My kitchen has never looked so ethereal.   

Meditation Garden

If you need me, I'll be in the garden.  This is my favorite time of year.  June usually has cooler mornings and temperatures in the 70's during the day.  I can do my gardening in the morning and freshen things up for enjoying the patio the rest of the day.

This "floral portrait" is the Abraham Darby English rose by David Austin. 

Each morning that I am home, I deadhead the roses, violas and geraniums.  I water the pots (mixed flowers, herbs, pepper plants, tomatoes) with a hose.  I cut all of the flowers that I want to make into bouquets.  Then I put on gloves and spray any buds/plants that show signs of disease or bugs with Orthonex.  Please note that I cut the flowers first, because I don't want to interact with any plants with bug spray on them.  I fertilize when necessary (I'm about to put down my "June" application of Rose Tone).  And then I sweep the patio to clean things up.  

A lot of tasks, I know, but it is oh so worth it.  I like Martha Stewart's explanation. She says that she doesn't think of it as "working in the garden" or having a list of "garden work" that must be done. To her (and me) it is simply the act of gardening and we love it. I don't play music.  I'm not on the phone.  I am in the garden - thinking and relaxing in my own space.  For me, that is meditation. 

I think any garden you can take care of is a "Meditation Garden," don't you?  

Intent To Delight

This is a moment of delight!  A single David Austin "Heritage" rose and a spring of mint resting on a silver coaster on my piano.  Do you ever make tiny bouquets?  It is easy with this flat disc vase from CB2.

I like to have something small and sweet in unexpected place around the house.  It shows my intent to delight and is a visual gift to everyone who sees it.  Do I sound crazy?  I am completely serious.

Here, I have it resting on the ledge of the piano.  Sometimes I put a single rose in the first floor bathroom or next to the phone in the kitchen.

I definitely have turned my rose garden into a cutting garden.  When I get a bloom, I cut it, no regrets.  I would much rather have it shown off in the house than leave it outside bobbing in the elements.

Plus, this way I get to show you!  How do you show your intent to delight? 

David Austin English Rose "Abraham Darby"

"Good Morning, Abraham!"  

Yes, I'll admit it, I talk to my roses.  On a quiet morning, standing on the patio with a hot cup of coffee, I am quite the chatterbox. In the mornings, there is no where I'd rather be than on my patio checking on my roses and imagining bouquets with the flowers that are in bloom.  I definitely use my rose garden as a cutting garden and I cut flowers for arrangements every day, if I didn't cut the flowers they would fade really quickly in the Summer heat.

Would you believe that the roses actually last longer as cut flowers in the house?  But on mornings like this, when Abraham Darby is showing off, I just have to let you see them in their natural habitat. Ha!

Do you remember when I met the David Austins in England?  I think of that special day all the time. 

Wedding Anniversary

Happy Anniverary! I've been married twenty years today and I thought that this sweet bouquet would mark the occassion nicely.  The vase is part of my "crown jewel" series, where I've glued pink, peach and clear gems to an empty jam jar.  So pretty! 

The oh-so-perfect flowers are "Endless Summer" blue hydrangeas, David Austin pink "Heritage" roses and an apricot rose called "Brandy." 

Can you hear the faint chime of wedding bells?

Camera Ready

To be able to capture dewy moments like this, you have to take your camera with you everywhere.  That is what I mean when I say "camera ready."

We have been having coffee on the patio every morning (*sigh* I don't want summer to end) and I was still in my pajamas when I took this picture.  I walk out each morning with coffee in one hand and my camera in the other.  When I saw the dew drops clinging to this blossom, I knew you had to see it.

This rose is a David Austin English Rose called Heritage.  When its buds are just beginning to show color they look like they were piped from pink frosting. 

When you hear someone describes a rose as "tissue paper pink," this is what they mean.  Simply gorgeous.  If you have a favorite aunt or dear mother-in-law that you are looking to spoil, this is the rose bush to send her.  David Austin (and his son of the same name) are based in England, but you can order any David Austin rose from their location in Texas.  This is delight!

Life is Art

Would you believe me if I told you I took this photo?  Can you imagine what it was like to see these roses exactly as you see them - crowded and blooming like a painting?  Real life was exceeding art at David Austin's rose garden last Summer. 

My visit to David Austin's Shropshire garden in England has been one of the highlights of my life.  As my own rose bushes are leafing out (I saw the beginnings of a bud yesterday!), I can't help but remember the thrill of standing here. 

Roses take time and tending to get results like this, but there is no doubt in my mind that they are worth it.  Buy yourself a David Austin English Rose (I have Heritage, Abraham Darby, Lillian Austin and Graham Thomas) and plant it in your garden.  It will bring art into your life in an entirely new way.

Visiting England: The David Austins

As I end my series on "Visiting England", it is time to tell you about the greatest moment of my trip.

When I contacted the David Austin headquarters for some hotel suggestions (I stayed at the Park House Hotel and loved it!), I ended up corresponding quite a bit with a lovely woman named Cheryl. She started reading my blog and it was like we were old friends by the time I arrived for my visit.

I knew that the David Austins (father & son) were private, hard-working men and that meeting them was not "the norm" for visitors to the Rose Garden and Plant Centre. But if anyone loves their roses, it's me, so I let my wish be known to Cheryl.

Lo and behold, they both happened to arrive at the gift shop while I was there! Cheryl introduced me to David Austin Jr. and prompted me to show him my DELIGHT tote that features their pale pink English Rose Heritage on the cover (to see my bag click Delight Totes button, then scroll down to "Visiting England"). He loved it and handed me the cut rose he was carrying in appreciation.

Next walked in the rose genius himself, David Austin. Cheryl introduced me as an inspirational writer that came "all the way from America" to meet him (true!). It was so wonderful to be able to look this gardener in the eye and tell him: "Your roses make me the happiest and I wanted to thank you myself." He seemed genuinely pleased, liked my DELIGHT tote and loved that I had a "Lillian Austin" rose (which he named after his mother) in my garden in America.

It was at the point when I started naming which of his roses I had in my garden, that I started crying. Yes, it is true. You know me by now and sometimes I love things so much that my emotions hit "tilt." He didn't seem to mind, though, he simply offered me the cut rose in his hand as well. A David Austin rose from David Austin himself.

Hoping to capture the moment, I took the photo above. These are the Gertrude Jekyll roses they gave me on a chair in the Plant Centre, along with a map of the grounds and the rose-print tissues I had to buy to dry my eyes.

Visiting England: Lunch at David Austin's

Could this be any prettier? I was so happy to have a very girl-y lunch at David Austin's Plant Center, Tea Room and Garden Shop.

I toured (and photographed!) David Austin's extensive rose gardens for almost 2 hours before settling at a table with Dan for a nice relaxing lunch.

This is definitely a destination spot for ladies. I saw clusters of old friends, mothers & daughters and happy women everywhere.

My lunch was a delicious open-faced ham sandwich served on a gorgeous "Redoute Rose" plate (a china pattern that is available in the gift shop!). Such attention to detail!

I had every intention of coming back for a slice of this Lemon & Elderflower cake, but I ran out of time.

One more thing to add to my "Return to England" list.

Visiting England: Rose Gardens

Who could possibly have enough roses in a garden to make the landscape look like fabric? I'll tell you who, David Austin!

I thought I knew what I would see when I made a pilgrimage to David Austin's Rose Gardens in Albrighton, England a few weeks ago. Roses, pathways, pergolas - I love gardens and I couldn't wait. But let me tell you, I was not prepared for this. This garden far exceeds anything I have seen in any category anywhere.

This garden is decadent. It is beautiful. It is hard to believe that it is real. Every aspect of "what it is to know a rose" is shown here in its best light.

David Austin (and his son of the same name) design roses. They use science to breed new roses by developing the color, scent and shape from exisiting species. You must look here at how they explain the process. Fascinating!

David Austin knows how to care for roses. The water, the fertilizer, the pruning and shaping. The experts in their field tending to their specialty on site. Each plant is strong, healthy and loaded with blooms.

David Austin knows how to arrange and display roses for maximum enjoyment. A garden wall, a reflecting pond, a shaded bench. Perfect pathways lined with rose after rose after rose. The literature says that over 800 species planted in the garden. But I'll tell you now, there are far more rose bushes than species. I walked every inch of their 2 acre rose garden and every direction I looked was as full as the photo above.

There is no limit to roses here. The David Austins love roses and they want you to see why. Bravo!

Visiting England: David Austin English Roses

Our trip to England was to celebrate our wedding anniversary and was planned with one thing in mind: David Austin English roses.

My dream was to visit David Austin's Shropshire Rose Garden when it was in full bloom. I'll tell you now that I cried.

You see, my favorite roses are by David Austin.

It might sound funny to use the word "by" but it is true. David Austin and his son design roses, propagate them and nurture them into the masterpieces that you will see here.

I have so many moments and images I want to share from my visit that I have decided to sprinkle them throughout the series (rather than have an entire week dedicated to roses). I promise they will take your breath away.

This magnificent show was on one plant, happily wafting in the breeze. My only regret is that I couldn't whisper the name of it into my camera to be able to identify the bloom for you. I know that you will enjoy it just the same.

London Calling

Well, actually, it is "David Austin English roses" calling. I am taking my first trip to England in June!

Having celebrated several seasons with me in my blog, you know that my favorite roses (Abraham Darby, Heritage, Lillian Austin, Graham Thomas) are propagated by David Austin. I am taking a pilgrimage to Albrighton to see his garden (of 800 rose bushes!) in person and hopefully meet the rose master and his son. Can you stand it? I am so excited I can hardly see straight.

That is where you come in. I need your "I loved it!" suggestions for sights/shopping/dining in London (we'll be there at least 3 days) and anything wonderful near Albrighton (North/West of Birmingham).

Think of the photos! I will be doing an entire blog series on Spring in England when I return.

Heritage Rose

Each type of rose opens and displays petals a little differently. This gorgeous pink rose (front & center) is a David Austin English rose called "Heritage."

I picked it from the rose garden and created this arrangement when the bud was just beginning to open. You can see that it is sandwiched between two peonies and as it started to relax into bloom, the peonies held their ground and limited the space available. The result is this amazing circular bloom.

In the garden, wonders never cease.

Roses Are Red

I had a thought. Maybe this year, instead of a rose bouquet, you like a rose bush.

Wouldn't it be fun to pick out a beautiful rose from a catalog (or online) and then buy & plant it this Spring in honor of Valentine's Day? You'll have romantic roses in the garden all Summer long.

This is very romantic suggestion. You could choose any variety you want: "Falling In Love", "Truly Yours", "Summer Love."

Tape a picture of it on the refrigerator and look forward to bloom after bloom.

(This rose is a David Austin English Rose that was named after David's mother, Lillian Austin.)

The Twelve Days of Valentines Day
Day 7: Plan to have flowers in your life - either by picking up a bouquet at the grocery store or by planning a symbolic planting this Spring.